sf945 - The Burial Of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27 57-66)
Matthew 27:57-66
Introduction
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
Three core doctrines of the Christian faith:
Ø Christ’s death
Ø Christ’s burial
Ø Christ’s resurrection
The burial of Christ occupies a significant portion of all the gospels.
Ø Matthew – 10 verses
Ø Mark – 6 verses
Ø Luke – 6 verses
Ø John – 5 verses
However, we do not generally give much thought to Jesus’ burial.
We tend to move from His death to His resurrection giving little attention to His burial.
Today, lets spend some time at the Lord’s grave because it there we can learn some important lessons.
1A. Why The Burial of Jesus is Important
1B. The burial proves that Jesus was really dead.
The centurion certified that Jesus was dead.
Pilate recognized that Jesus was dead.
Joseph, Nicodemus, and the women handled Jesus’ body as if he were dead.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore His resurrection was a true resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:12-14 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
2B. The burial fulfilled Scripture.
Isaiah 53:9 And they made His grave with the wicked -- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Matthew tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was “a rich man.”
3B. The burial has theological significance. (Romans 6:4)
Burial is important because it represents something that is feared. (Genesis 37:35; 2 Samuel 22:6; Psalm 116:3)
Burial is important because it permanently removes the deceased from the world of the living.
Therefore we have not only died to sin we have buried it and to go back to sin once we have been joined to Christ is like digging up a dead body. (Brownie and the Groundhog)
2A. What The Burial of Jesus Involved
1B. The gift (27:57-61)
The intercession of Joseph (27:57-58)
Ø His great wealth (27:57)
Ø His great work (27:58)
The internment of Jesus (27:59-61)
Ø The last loving gift (27:59-60)
The clean linen (27:59)
The clean location (27:60)
Completely surrendered
Carefully secured
Ø The last lingering gaze (27:61)
2B. The guard (27:62-66)
The Sanhedrin’s predicament (27:62-64)
Ø What was remembered (27:62-63)
Ø What was requested (27:64)
The guarding of the grave of this supposed redeemer
The prevention of a story of a supposed resurrection
The Sanhedrin’s precaution (27:65-66)
Ø The permission of the governor (27:65)
Ø The posting of the guard (27:66)
3A. What The Burial of Jesus Illuminates
1B. Faith
Preparation
Ø Joseph of Arimathea, responded in love and faith when he asked for and prepared Jesus body for burial.
Ø Nicodemus revealed his faith when he joined Joseph as did the women.
Ø Both men gave of their goods, time, and self.
Anticipation
Ø The two women lingered and watched.
Ø Perhaps they were moved by grief.
Ø Perhaps they were motivated by faith.
2B. Fear
Fear will cause you to set a guard against the power of Christ’s resurrection. Like the chief priests and Pharisees many today try to secure their lives against Jesus. HOW?
Filling your life with activity
Ø This world offers ample opportunities to become too busy for the things of God.
Filling your life the pleasures of sin
Ø Jesus is the sinless Son of God; sin should keep you from Him.
Filling your life with dead religion
Ø Focus on tradition and ceremony.
Application
It will not work! Jesus specializes in breaking seals and scattering guards.
Abandon your sin, fall before him like Thomas and say, “My Lord and my God!”
Matthew 27:57-66
1A. Why The Burial of Jesus is ___________________
1B. The burial proves that Jesus was ______________ dead.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
1 Corinthians 15:12-14 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
2B. The burial fulfilled ________________________.
Isaiah 53:9 And they made His grave with the wicked -- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
3B. The burial has theological significance. (Romans 6:4)
Burial is important because it represents something that is feared. (Genesis 37:35; 2 Samuel 22:6; Psalm 116:3)
Burial is important because it permanently removes the deceased from the world of the living.
Therefore we have not only died to sin we have buried it and to go back to sin once we have been joined to Christ is like digging up a dead body.
2A. What The Burial of Jesus ____________________
1B. The ____________________ (27:57-61)
The intercession of Joseph (27:57-58)
Ø His great wealth (27:57)
Ø His great work (27:58)
The internment of Jesus (27:59-61)
Ø The last loving gift (27:59-60)
Ø The last lingering gaze (27:61)
2B. The ____________________ (27:62-66)
The Sanhedrin’s predicament (27:62-64)
Ø What was _____________________ (27:62-63)
Ø What was requested (27:64)
The Sanhedrin’s precaution (27:65-66)
Ø The permission of the governor (27:65)
Ø The posting of the guard (27:66)
3A. What The Burial of Jesus ____________________
1B. ___________________________
Preparation
Anticipation
2B. ______________________________________
Fear will cause you to set a guard against the power of Christ’s resurrection. Like the chief priests and Pharisees many today try to secure their lives against Jesus.
Filling your life with ______________________
Filling your life the pleasures of __________________
Filling your life with ____________________ religion